"The very ancient men who have seen the former glory and the prosperity
of their country, or who have heard from the mouths of their ancestors, and
particularly from their beloved men, (whose office it is to repeat their traditions
and laws to the rising generations, with heroic achievements of their forefathers)
the former state of their country with the great prowess and success of their
warriors of old times they weep like infants, when they speak of the fallen
condition of their nation. They derive, however, some consolation from
a prophecy of ancient origin and universal currency among them, that the man
of America will at some future period, regain his ancient ascendancy and expel
the man of Europe from this western hemisphere. This flattering and consolatory
persuasion has enabled the Seneca and the Shawnese prophets to arrest in some
tribes the use of intoxicating liquors and has given birth, at different periods,
to attempts for a general confederacy of the Indians of North America."- Clinton.

The writer of this was present at a dinner given by General Knox, to
a number of Indians in the year 1789, at New York; they had come to the President
on a mission from their nations. The house was in Broadway. A little before
dinner, two or three of the Sachems, with their chief or principal man went
into the balcony at the front of the house, the drawing room being up-stairs.
From this they had a view of the city, the harbor, Long Island, &c., &c.
After remaining there a short time, they returned into the room, apparently
dejected; but the chief more than the rest. General Knox took notice of it and
said to him, brother! what has happened to you?- You look sorry!- Is there anything
to distress you? He answered- I'll tell you brother. I have been
looking at your beautiful city- the great water-your fine country-and see how
happy you all are. But then I could not help thinking, that this fine
country, this great water were once ours. Our ancestors lived here-they
enjoyed it as their own in peace-it was the gift of the great spirit to them
and their children. At last the white people came in a great canoe.
They asked only to let them tie it to a tree, lest the waters should carry it
away-we consented. They then said some of their people were sick, and they asked
permission to land them and put them under the shade of the trees. The ice then
came, and they could not go away. They then begged a piece of land to
build wigwams for the winter-we granted it to them. They then asked for
some corn to keep them from starving-we kindly furnished it to them, they promising
to go away when the ice was gone. When this happened, we told them they
must go away with their big canoe; but they pointed to their big guns round
their wigwams, and said they would stay there, and we could not make them go
away. Afterwards more came. They brought spirituous and intoxicating liquors
with them, of which the Indians became very fond. They persuaded us to
sell them some land. Finally they drove us back, from time to time, into
the wilderness, far from the water, and the fish, and the oysters-they have
destroyed the game-our people have wasted away, and now we live miserable and
wretched, while you are enjoying our fine and beautiful country. This
makes me sorry brother! and I cannot help it."--Boudinot.

This transcription
from the Cherokee Phoenix is presented as part of the historical record, and
includes historical materials that may contain negative stereotypes or language
reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place including
terminology that may not be deemed appropriate today. While an effort has been
made to verify the transcription against the original text, complete accuracy
cannot be guaranteed. Researchers are urged to match the transcription against
the original article to authenticate exact quotes. Issues of the Cherokee Phoenix
are available on microfilm. Please check your local library for availability
or to inquire about interlibrary loan of a microfilm copy.